Portuguese History: Jan 1 - Jan 9

• Jan 3, 1248: Birth of Don Afonso III (1248 - 1279)
• Jan 7, 1325: Birth of Don Afonso IV (1325 - 1357)
• Jan 7, 1355: Murder of Dona Inês de Castro (lover of Dom Pedro I), by order of the Dom Afonso IV his father as he considered Dona Inês a threat to the line of succession to the Portuguese throne
• Jan 7, 1499: Triumphant return of vessels of Vasco da Gama's expedition from his voyage to the east - his return is delayed in the Azores due to the death of his brother
• Jan 5, 1654: Battle of Pernabuco - Dutch are defeated at this important town held by Portuguese settlers
• Jan 3, 1787:  Inauguration of Observatory in Lisbon in Castelo São Jorge
• Jan 6, 1829: General Saldanha flees with his supporters to the Island of Terceira in Azores
• Jan 9, 1829: Failed military revolt in Lisbon
• Jan 5, 1837: Creation of Conservatory of Arts in Porto
• Jan 4, 1868: António José de Vila (Conde de Vila) is appointed Prime Minister
• Jan 6, 1876: Death of Marquês de Sá da Bandeira
• Jan 9, 1913: Afonso Augusto da Costa becomes Prime Minister (1913-1914)
• Jan 3, 1918: Troops in Porto display their support for "Sidónism"
• Jan 3, 1919: Military Junta in Porto assumes control of Portugal
• Jan 1, 1961:  Beja military led by Manuel Serra and Captain Varela Gomes stage a revolt which is quelled by forces of the State
• Jan 3, 1979: Francisco Manuel Lumbrales de Sá Carneiro of the PPD/PSD Party becomes Prime Minister of 6th Constitutional Government of the Democratic Alliance (1980-1981)
• Jan 9, 1981: Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão of PSD Party becomes Prime Minister of 7th Constitutional Government (1981)
• Jan 1, 1986: Portugal is accepted into the European Community
• Jan 1, 1992: Portugal assumes Presidency of the CCE for the first time
• Jan 1, 1999: Portugal hands the territory of Macau back to China
• Jan 1, 2002: Portugal introduces the Euro as its trading currency and becomes a fully-fledged member of the European Union